Molding-machine



(No-Model.) 3 SheetsShee't 1.

P. MOORE & F. 'L. CLARK.

MOLDING MACHINE.

No. 463,160. Patented Nov. 17,1891. I

WITNESSES: INVENTORS.

WWW

No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. MOORE & F. L. CLARK. MOLDING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 17,1891.

ITNESSES:

lllllll mvsn'rons,

a? M NH (No Model.) 3Sheet-Sheet 3. F. MOORE & F. L. CLARK. MOLDING MACHINE.

. No. 463,160. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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I TNJITEED STATES FRANK MOORE, OF PITTSBURG, AND FRANCIS Ii. CLARK, OF SIYISSVALE PATENT FFICE.

PENNSYLVANIA.

MOLDING- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,160, dated November 17, 1891.

Application filed March a, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and FRANCIS L. CLARK, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain neW and useful Improvement in Molding-Machines, of whichimprovement the following. is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines for making molds for castings of the class or type in which a rotating table is employed for the successive presentation of a series of flasks or mold-boxes to a device for effecting the compression of the sand therein.

The object of our invention is to provide a machine of such general type which shall be simple, compact, and durable in its structure, and adapted to be expeditiously operated with an economical application of mo tive power and without involving any hand molding.

To this end our invention consists in certain novel devices and combinations herein- I dation.

after fully set forth.

In the-accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a moldingmachine embodying our invention at theline 0c :0 of Fig. 3, one of the pattern-plate-carrier guides and both pattern-plate carriers shown therein being in elevation; Fig. 2, a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan or top view of the table with the cylinder-standards and one of the pattern-plate carriers in horizontal section and showing in plan apatternplate, a platen, and a stripping-plate; Fig. 4:, a vertical central section through the operating cook or valve; Fig. 5, a plan or top view of the same; Figs. 6, '7, and S, transverse sections through the same in the position of supply, equalization, and release, respectively; and Fig. 9, a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a modification of the ramming mechanism.

In the practice of our invention we provide a substantial base or bed plate 1, adapted to be secured to a floor or other suitable foun- A circular track 2 is connected to the bed-plate the upper surface of said track being partly horizontal in two planes of different levels and partly composed of alternately-reversed inclines, connecting the horizontal portions. A vertical cylindrical standard 3 is fixed to the bed-plate concentric with the track 2, and a vertical standard at is bolted to the bed-plate exterior to the track 2, said standard serving, together with the standard 3, to support the mechanism, presently to be described,by which the sand is compactedin the flasks. I A table 5, composed of an annular top connected by radial arms to a central hub or sleeve, is fitted to rotate on the bed-plate upon ball-bearings 6, concentric with the track 2 and standard 3, its central hub fitting and moving freely around the standard 3. The top-plate of the table 5 is provided with a series of circumferential recesses or notches 31 to receive a latch, whereby the table is held stationary during the jarring and ramming of the flasks, and the table carries a series of pattern-plates 7, which support the patterns a and are connected to the topsof cylindrical pattern-plate carriers 8, fitting, with the capacity of free vertical movement, in bracket guides 9, secured circu mferentially to the table. The guides 9 are provided with internal recesses near their tops to receive packing 9 for preventing the access of sand to their inner surfaces, and the pattern-plate carriers are supported on rollers 10, which are journaled in shoes or bearings 11, secured to the lower ends of the carriers, and traverse over the track 2 in the rotation of the table. During the jarring and ramming of each flask the roller of its carrier is relieved from contact with the track by the elevation of the carrier, which in these periods is supported byimembers abutting against the bearing-facesof'its shoe, as hereinafter described. I

Vertical bearing-pins 12 are fixed in each of the pattern-plates 7, said pins entering and fitting freely in sleeves 13, projecting downwardly from the lower side of a platen or pressure-plate 14, one of which is provided for each patternplate, said platens being adapted to support the stripping-plate l5 and flask 16, and being themselves supported, except during the jarring and ramming of the flask, upon bearing-faces on the top of the table 5. pattern-plates and platens is maintained by guide-pins 17, fiXed to the table and fitting corresponding openings in the platens.

The tops of the standards 3 and 4 are connected by a substantial frame-casting or entablature 18, which supports the mechanism by which compacting pressure is applied to the sand in the flasks, fluid-pressure being preferably utilized, as in the instance illustrated. A compressing-cylinder l9 and a releasing-cylinder 20, which are arranged horizontally and in line axially, are secured to or formed integral with the frame 18 on opposite sides of a line perpendicular to a point in the circular'path traversed by the axes of the pattern-plate carriers in the rotation of the table 5. The cylinders 19 and 20 are fitted with suitably packed pistons 21 and 22, respectively, the piston 21 of the compressing-cylinder 19 being coupled by a link 23 to the adjacent ends of a pair of toggle-levers 24 25, and the piston 22 being coupled by a link 26 to the link 23 of the opposite piston.

The opposite or outer ends of the toggle-le-v vers and 24 are coupled, respectively, to a ramming-plate 27, having a working face 28 of wood or other suitable material, and to an abutment, which may either be liked or preferably, as shown, adapted to yield upon the application of pressure above a desired and determined limit to the toggle levers. The ramming-plate 27 is provided with a vertical extension 29, which in this instance is of cylindrical form and fits truly in a corresponding guide 30 on the frame 18, thereby insuring true rectilineal movement of the ramming-plate. The table 5 is held stationary during the operations of jarring and ramming the flasks by a latch 32, which enters one of the series of notches 31 in the periphery of the table, the latch being forced into engagement with a notch when the latter is brought into line with it by a spring 33, and being withdrawn therefrom to admit of the rotation of the table by a piston 34, fixed to a stem projecting from the latch and fitting in afluid-pressure cylinder 35.

The jarring of the sand in the flask, whereby it is preliminarily compacted about the pattern a therein, is effected by tapping or jarring the flask vertically while the sand is being poured into the flaskfrom a spout 36, another flask being rammed in the same in terval of rest of the table. In the instance shown the jarring operation is performed by blows of a fluid-pressure piston, as presently to be described; but any other suitable striking or jarring device may be employed, and would constitute in relation to the ooacting members the mechanical equivalent of that herein illustrated. A jarring-block 37, hay: ing two lateral jaws, which project upwardly 'oh opposite sides of the track 2 and are adapted to abut at their upper ends against the shoe 11 of a pattern-plate carrier, is fitted to slide The normal vertical relation of the vertically in guides on the bed-plate 1 above the open upper end of a fluid-pressure cylinder 38, which is fixed to thelower side of the bedplate with its axis perpendicular to a point in the circular path traversed by the axes of the pattern-plate carriers in the rotation of the table. The tops of the jaws of the jarring-block stand at such distance above the track 2 as to act as supports for the shoe 11 of a pattern-plate carrier, and to raise the roller 10 of the latter entirely clear of the track 2 when the shoe is brought above them in the rotation of the table. A piston 39 is fitted to work in the cylinder 38 and in its upward movement under pressure to strike the lower end of the jarring -block 37, the piston, with the jarring-block and the carrier and flask supported by the jarring-block, dropping by gravity to their original positions upon the relief of pressure.

Operating-fluid is supplied to the piston 39 by a valve 40, controlling a supply-pipe 41 and actuated by a treadle 42, the actuatingvalve being normally seated by a spring 43. The supply-pipe 41 leads into a chamber 41 below the cylinder 38, communication between said chamber and the cylinder being controlled by a cheek-valve 40, which epens downwardly,- and is normally held unseated by the piston 39 when the latter rests at the lower extremity of its traverse; A portion of the fluid which is admitted to the chamber 41 by the opening of the valve 40 when the treadle42 is depressed by the operator passes by the check-valve 40' into the cylinder 38 and effects the upward blow or stroke of the piston, at the terminal of which it is exhausted through a discharge-port 42 in the cylinder 38. During the upward stroke of the piston 39 the check-valve 40 is closed by the preponderance of pressure on its lower side cutting off fluid-supply, and is reopened, admitting supply for the next upward stroke, when struck by the piston 39 at the terminal of the downward stroke. The movements of the piston are thus rendered automatic and continuous while the supply-valve is held open, and the rapidity and force of the blows of the piston on the jarring block and flask may be regulated as desired by the operator.

Each of the pattern-plate carriers is supported during the ramming of the flask thereon by rollers 43*, which are mounted on a stout shaft journaled in bearings on opposite sides of the track 2 and project sufficiently far above the highest portion of the latter to enable them to abut against and act as the supports of the lower bearing-faces of the shoe 11 of a pattern-plate carrier, which they lift until its roller 10 stands-entirelyout of contact with the track, so as to obviate wear or breakage of the roller under the pressure sustained by the carrier in the ramming operation, also raising the platen 14 from its bearing on the table and supporting iton the bearing-pins 12 of the pattern-plate.

The distribution of actuating-fluid to the IZC - cylinders 19, 20, and 35 is controlled by a Fig. 1.

regulating cock or valve 44, fitted in a casing 45, to which are connected a pipe 46,1eading from the source of fluid-supply, a pipe 47,1eadinginto the compressing-cylinder 19,a pipe 48, leading into the releasing-cylinder 20, and a pipe 49, leading into the cylinder 35. The cook 44 is provided with a port 50, whereby communication may in one position of the cock be established between the main-supply pipe 46 and the pipe 47, leading to the compressing-cylinder 19, and in another position of the cock between the compressirig-cylinder pipe 47 and the releasingcylinder pipe 48. A second port 51 admits of communication being opened and closed between the compressing-cylinder pipe 47 and the unlatchingcylinder In order to effect the ramming of the flask, the regulatingcock is turned by its handle 52 into the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby admitting fluid under pressure to the compressing-cylinder 19 and effecting the stroke of its piston 21, which, acting through the togglelevers 24 and 25 upon the pressure-plate 27, imparts to the sand in the flask the pressure requisite for compacting it by a ramming operation. The regulating-cock is next turned 'into the position shown in Fig. 7, cutting off the supply of fluid to the piston 21 and opening communication between the compressing-cylinder 19 and the releasing-cylinder 20 on the left-hand side of the piston 22 of the latter through the pipe 47, port 50, and pipe 48. Equilibrium of fluid-pressure is thereby established on the pistons 19 and 22 of the respective cylinders. Finally the regulatingcock is turned into the released position, as shown in Fig. 8, whereby fluid will be admitted from the cylinder 19 to the cylinder 35 through the pipe 47, port 51, and pipe 49, and will force out the piston 34, withdrawing the latch 32 from the notch of the table with which it is engaged and permitting movement of the table into position for the jarring and ramming of the two next succeeding" flasks. Upon the relief of pressure in the cylinder 19 the then preponderating pressure in the cylinder 20 forces the piston 22 thereof in the direction of the cylinder 19 and returns the parts to their normal position, as shown in The fluid which has effected the com pressing and releasing strokes of the pistons 19 and 22 is exhausted from the cylinders at the terminal of the releasing-stroke through a release-port 53 in the cylinder 20.

In order to regulate accurately the degree of pressure applied to the sand in ramming the flasks and prevent any injurious results from the exertion of a greater pressure upon the piston of the ramming-cylinder, the abutment of the toggle-levers 24 and 25 is, instead of being fixed rigidly to the frame 18, constructed with the capacity of automatically yielding under any degree of pressure above that which may be desired and determined, and thereby relieving such excess of pressure.

To this end the upper toggle-lever 24 is coupled to a stem 54, having a collar or shoulder 55, and a strong helical spring 56 bears at one end against said collar and at the other against a tubular adjusting-nut 57, which engages an internal screw-thread on an upward extension 58 of the frame 18. The stem 54 works freely in the centralbore of the adjusting-nut 57, and the adjusting-nut is fixed in desired position by a lock-nut 59. It will be seen that the stem 54 is in effect a fixed abutment under any pressure not exceeding the maximum to which the resistance of the spring 56 may be adjusted, and that any excess of pressure is exerted in effecting the compression of the spring and the upward movement of the abutment.

While we have set forth a nut as the preferred means of effecting variation of the resistance applied to the abutment, we do not desire to limit ourselves to such specific device, as it will be obvious that the same result might be similarly attained by other well-known 1neans-as, for example, a plate bearing on the spring and held in different positions by a bar fitting recesses in the frame-extension 58. Any suitable adjusting member would therefore constitute in operation the mechanical equivalent of the nut described and shown.

The patterns a are withdrawn from the flasks through the openings in the strippingplates' 15 in and by the downward movement of the pattern-plate carriers, due to their gravity, in passing over the incline from the upper to the lower horizontal portions of the track 2. The patterns are correspondingly raised to operative position by the traverse of the carriers from the lower to the upper horizontal portions of the track.

The table 5 being balanced and supported with a comparatively slight degree of friction, its intermittent movements of rotation may be readily effected by hand, and no rotating mechanism has therefore been illustrated. It will be obvious, however, that if deemed desirable the application of powerto the rotation of the table may be made without departure from the spirit of our invention by the employment of any suitable and pre ferred system of driving-gearing.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modification designed for use in machines of comparatively small size, in which the compressing and releasing cylinders are dispensed with and the pressure by which the flasks are rammed is applied by hand. For this purpose a pressing-lever 60 is coupled at one end to the frame 18 by a fulcrum-pin 61, and the adjacent ends of the toggle-levers 24 and 25 are coupled to the lever 60 above its fulcrum by a link 62. Manual power applied to the free end of the lever exerts the desired pressure for ramming the flasks, and acts with constahtly-increasing leverage as the lever is moved downwardly by reason of the correspondiugly-decreased angularity of the coupling-link 62.

IIO

' In operation the patterns a are connected to the pattern-plates, the stripping-plates fitted around them, and the flasks 16 placed on the stripping-plates and held in position thereon by pins entering eyes on their sides. The table is moved into position in which one of the carriers 8 rests upon the jarring-block, and the flask is filled and jarred. A further movement of the table is then made, by which this flask and carrier are brought into position in which they are supported by the rollers 43*, and the flask is rammed, as before described, the next succeeding flask being jarred during the same period, in which also a flask containing a completed mold is removed from the table and an empty flask is placed in position thereon. These operations are success-v ively and continuously repeated, and it will be seen that the molds can be rapidly and accurately formed Without necessitating any manual operations involving the employment of skilled labor.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1, The combinatiomiu a moldin -machine i of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates carried thereon, a series of pressure-plates, each arranged to support a flask and provided with an opening to receive a pattern and fitted to move vertically above one of the pattern-plates and receive its support alternately from said plate and from the table in the rotation of the table, a jarring device 10 cated below the table, and a ramming device contents of flasks supported by the patternplates and pressure-platesduring intervals of rest of the table, and to coincidently act upon the contents of two different flasks during each interval of rest of the table, substantially as set forth. 1

2. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to the table and are continuously supported independently thereof, a' series of vertically-moving pressureplates, each located above one of the patternplates and supported alternately by said plate and by the table in the rotation of the latter, "a lower bearing or abutment over which the pattern-plate carriers traverse and on which they are supported, toggle-levers coupled to an abutment and to a ramming-plate located in position to impart pressure from the toggle-levers to the contents of flasks supported by the pressureplates and pattern-plates, and a link coupled to the toggle-levers and to a device for imparting pressure thereto, substantially as set.forth.

The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which arefitted to move vertically in guides fixed to the table and are continuously supported independently thereof, a series of verticallymoving pressureplates, each located aboveoue of the patternplates and supported alternately by said plate and by the tablein the rotation of the latter, a lower hearing or abutment over which the pattern-plate carriers traverse and on which they are supported, a fluid-pressure cylinder and piston, toggle-levers coupled to said piston and to an abutment, and a ramming-plate coupled to the toggle-levers in position to impart pressure from the piston and toggle-levers to the contents of flasks supported by the pressure-plates and pattern-plates, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a molding machine,

of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to said table, a movable block adapted to support. each of said carriers when brought above it by the rota tion of the table, and a striking or tapping device for jarring said block and the members supported thereon, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to said table, a movable block adapted to support each of said carriers when brought above it by the rotation of the table, a piston fitted in afluidpressure cylinder and adapted to impart a succession of vertical jarring movements to said block and the members supported thereon, a regulating-cock controlling the admission of fluid to said cylinder, and an admission-check valve and a fluid-discharge passage, said clieck-valve being arranged to be opened by thecontact of the piston there,

with at one extremity of its stroke and said fluid-discharge passage being arranged to be uncovered by the piston at the opposite extremity of its stroke, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move verticallyin guides fixed to said table,a movable block and a fixed abutment, each adapted to support one of said carriers when,

brought above it by the rotation of the table, a striking or tapping device for jarring said movable block and the members supported thereon, a ramming-plate located in position to impart pressure to the contents of a flask supported by a carrier and the fixed abutment during the jarring of the movable block, and pressure mechanism coupled to and actuating said ramming-plate, substantially as set forth,

'7. The combination,in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table having a series of circumferential locking-notches, a series of patternplates connected to carriers Which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to said table, a lower bearing or abutment over which the pattern-plate carriers traverse and on which they are supported, a fluid-pressure cylinder and piston, a ramming-plate coupled to said piston in position to impart pressure therefrom to the contents of tlasks supported by the pattern-plates, a latch adapted to engage the locking-notches of the table, an unlocking-piston connected to said latch and working in a second fluid-pressure cylinder, and a connection for transmitting pressure from the first cylinder to actuate the unlocking-piston, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move verticallyin guides fixed to said table, a lower bearing or abutment over which the patternplate carriers traverse and on which they are supported, a compressing-cylinder'and a releasing-cylinder, each fitted with a piston, toggle-levers coupled to an abutment and to each of said pistons, a ramming-plate coupled to the togglelevers in position to impart pressure from the piston of the compressingcylinder to the contents of flasks supported by the pattern-plates, and a regulating-cock controlling fluid-supply to the compressingcylinder, transfer of fluid from the compressing-cylinder to the releasing-cylinder, and exhaust of fluid from the compressing-cylin der, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a pattern-plate connected to the carrier, a lower hearing or abutment over which said carrier traverses and on which it is supported, a ram ming-plate located in position to impart pressure to the contents of flasks supported by the pattern-plate, a pair of toggle-levers, one of which is coupled to the ram min g-plate, a link coupled to the togglelevers and to a device for imparting pressure thereto, a movable abutment coupled to the toggle-levers and acting to transmit pressure applied thereto to the ramming-plate, and an adjusting device for regulating the degree of resistance applied to the abutment, substantially as set forth. v

10. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to said table, a lower hearing or abutment over which the patternplate carriers traverse and on which they are supported, a fluid-pressure cylinder and piston, a ramming-plate located in position to impart pressure to the contents of flasks supported by the pattern-plates, togglelevers coupled to'said piston and ramming-plate, a movable abutment-stem coupled to one of the toggle-levers, a spring bearing against a collar on said stem, and an adjusting device bearing on said spring and engaging a fixed sup port, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a circular track fixed concentric therewith and having its surface partly horizontal in planes of different levels and partly in inclines connecting the horizontal portions, a series of pattern-plate carriers, each supported by a roller traversing on the track and. fitted to move vertically in a guide fixed to the table, a series of verti- Cally-movable platens or pressure-plates, each adapted to support astripping-plate and. flask and to bear upon the table during the traverse of the patternplate-carrier rollers over the lower horizontal portions of the track, and bearingpins connected to the patternplate carriers and supporting the platens when raised by the elevation of the pattern-platecarrier rollers to or above the u pper horizontal portion of the track, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, in a molding-machine, of a rotatory table, a circular track fixed concentric therewith and having its surface partly horizontal in planes of different levels and partly in inclines connecting the horizontal portions, a series of pattern-plate carriers each fitted to move vertically in guides fixed to the table, shoes provided with lower bearing-faces and fixed to the carriers, rollers journaled in said shoes and adapted to traverse on the track, a series of verticallymovable platens or pressure -plates, each adapted to support a stripping-plate and flask and to be supported by a pattern-plate carrier when the roller of said carrier is elevated to or above the upper horizontal portion of the track, ramming mechanism adapted to impart pressure to the sand in a flask during an interval of rest of the table, and lower bearings abutting against the bearing faces of the carrier-shoes and supporting the carriers during the ramming operation, sub stantially as set forth.

13. lhecombination,in amolding-machine, of a bed-plate, a rotatory table, a circular series of ball-bearings supporting said table centrally on the bed-plate, a series of patternplates connected to carriers which are fitted to move vertically ifi guides fixed to said table, a lower hearing or abutment over which the pattern-plate carriers traverse and on which they are supported, a post fixed to the bedplate concentric with the table and fitting freely therein, a post fixed to the bed-plate exterior to the table, and ramming mechanism supported by said posts above the table in position to impart pressure to the contents of flasks supported by the pattern-plates during intervals of rest of the table, substantially as set forth.

14:. The combination, in amolding-machine,

of a rotatory table, a series of pattern-plates connected to carriers which are fitted. to move vertically in guides fixed to said table, a movable block arranged to support each of said carriers when brought above it by the rotation of the table, a piston fitted in a fluid-pressure cylinder below said block, a supply-pipe leading into a supply-chamber communicating with said cylinder, a regulat- 1'ng-cockcontrollingsnidsupply-pipe, a check- In testimony whereof We have hereunto set valve controlling communication between the our hands. supply-chamber and cylinder and arranged to be opened by the piston at the lower ter- FRANK MOORE 5 Ininal of its stroke, and a fluid-discharge pas- FRANCIS OLARIL sage in the cylinder, arranged to be opened Vitnesses: by the piston at the upper terminal of its J. SNOWDEN BELL,

istroke, substantially as set forth. R. H. WHITTLESEY. 

